Swim shoes guide: Choose the right ones

Although you might initially think that bathing shoes are just bathing shoes, you will be surprised by the big differences between them. The function of them is of course largely the same, as they must protect the feet and preferably be non-slip. From there, the models begin to differ significantly from each other, as their different designs give them certain advantages over others, and thus they are also better suited to certain environments.

Bathing shoes are often a very underrated piece of bathing equipment, as most people are barefoot around the pool and beach. However, this can quickly change if you have stepped on something sharp in the water, fallen on slippery surfaces or stepped on hot coal buried in the sand. The latter in particular is a theme every year for families with children over the summer, as in some cases it causes severe fire damage.

In Danish waters, you can't avoid the threat of stepping on fins, which can ruin the whole beach trip. Therefore, many nature websites will also recommend the use of bathing shoes at the beach. You can read more about the sting and how best to avoid being stung here.

However, there are also other aspects in the use of bathing shoes - especially for those who walk along the water. Bathing shoes are not the best walking shoes in the true sense, but for those who love to go for long walks along the beach or other streams, they are worth their weight in gold.Contrary to normal shoes, bathing shoes work just as well in water as on land, which means that you don't need to switch between footwear and bare feet if you walk in the waves or jump into the water.

To make it all a little more manageable, you can divide the different bathing shoes into categories, which refer to which surroundings they are best suited to and which activities. We will review them so that you can become much wiser about which bathing shoes suit you best.

Strand

On the beach - both at home and abroad - swimming shoes will primarily protect against sharp objects, spikes from animals, smooth stones and hot sand. That is why it is important to have a pair of swimming shoes with a solid and preferably vulcanized sole with a non-slip pattern. The extra durable sole will not only provide a firm footing, but also prevent sharp objects or spikes from going through it and up into the foot.

Children

This is especially important when you have to find a good pair of swimming shoes for children that are so suitable for playing on the beach and in the water. In addition, it is important that they have a good neoprene cover, which both provides UPF+50 protection, has good elasticity and is quick-drying. It will make it more comfortable to wear the bathing shoes for longer periods of time, without having to take them off to let them dry.

Last - but not least - you will benefit greatly from a good drainage system, as it will also dry them faster and ensure that they are not heavy with water when the children come ashore. It all sounds very nice and straightforward, but are there a few good examples of bathing shoes for the beach for children? And of course it does:

Aquasphere Beachwalker - Kids: Are some of the most well-known and reliable swimming shoes available on the market. They have what you need without too many frills, which is also why they are considered the very definition of beach shoes for children.

Watery High Catfish - Kids: If you just need a few extra functions for better comfort, then this model is a really good bet. They provide better ventilation around the feet, making them quick-drying and more cooling in hot temperatures.

Watery Dawn - Kids: If you are more looking for something that resembles sandals, then these are clearly the best bet. They are much more designed for playing on the beach, as the sole covers both the heel and the toes. In addition, they also have a much more shock-absorbing sole and are lightweight, so they protect the feet extra well.

The good thing about these models is that they are also suitable for water activities around the beach and on the sea, which is mainly due to the fact that they are soft shoes, which therefore have a high degree of flexibility.

Adult

For adults, there are somewhat the same requirements for bathing shoes for the beach as for children. A good pair of swimming shoes should still ideally have a good and non-slip sole, but here you might wish for a swimming shoe that is easier to swim in than others. This requires that they not be too heavy when you wear them in the water, and that they have a good and tight fit to the foot. It could, for example, be:

Watery - Perk: Has a good and tight fit around the ankles, so that sand or stones do not get into the shoe. In addition, they are made of soft multi-spandex neoprene, which makes them incredibly easy to put on and take off and which, among other things, - together with the special sole - means that they weigh almost nothing.

Arena - Bow: If you want a little more protection against sharp objects and stones, then these are the swimming shoes you should go with. They also have an extremely efficient drainage system, so that the water disappears more quickly when they come back onto land.

Watery - High Catfish: As with the High Catfish for children, this bathing shoe has an efficient ventilation system and special mesh panels that provide extremely good air circulation around the feet. Thus, they both dry faster and have a cooling effect.

In the long run, it is often a matter of taste what you think best suits your own needs. However, we believe that you will get the most out of your bathing shoes on the beach if you find some that resemble the ones listed here. If you still lack inspiration, you can find a large selection of beach shoes here or read a little more about other types of bathing shoes for the beach here.

Pool

Swimming shoes for the pool or swimming pool have completely different requirements than swimming shoes for the beach. Not least because here - most of the time anyway - you don't have to fear stepping on sharp objects or spikes. Therefore, you also do not need a thick and particularly protective sole in the same way. Here it is more about a good foothold against smooth surfaces.

Therefore, you can much better focus on effective drainage properties and lighter weight. For those reasons, many parents also choose to use swimming socks for children rather than bathing shoes, as they weigh less, provide a good foothold and that children can take them on and off much more easily themselves.

If, despite that, you feel more secure with something that fits a little better on the foot, then these will do bathing sandals from Beco be a really good choice. They sit well on the foot and have a good and firm fit, so they do not restrict freedom of movement. However, be aware that they expose much of the foot to the sun's UV rays, which means that they do not provide the same UPF protection.

If you are still looking for a bathing shoe - as they can be used more easily at both the pool and the beach - then a Gravity bathing shoe will be the safe choice. They have special non-slip soles with a water-grip function that provide the absolute best foothold on all smooth surfaces. In addition, they are very lightweight and have an extremely flexible mesh net cover, which does not hinder movements when, for example, swimming or playing around the pool and swimming pool.

As an adult, you can of course also choose to use a pair of swimming socks for the same reasons as those for children. But if you also feel safer with a bathing shoe - which can also be used for the beach and water sports - so be it Poseidon from Watery, you have to get hold of them. They are the best intermediate between a swimming shoe and a swimming sock, which means they have a soft and thinner sole, and a soft stretch fabric as cover. This makes them some of the lightest swimming shoes on the market. In addition, they have a very special drainage system in the sole, which is completely unique in its own way.

Hike around water

There is almost nothing better than a good long walk along the water, with good and warm weather, beautiful nature and a lot of impressions. It should be that you don't have to think about whether your footwear will stay dry on the trip. Because with the right swimming shoes, you get both good comfort on the hike itself and the opportunity to switch between walking in water and on land, without having to change footwear or take them on and off. Here are our 3 best suggestions for a good swimming shoe for hiking:

Watery - Kawaii: With these swimming shoes, you get the closest to a sports shoe that is particularly suitable for walking in and around water. It has a water-grip function, a special drainage system in the sole, special durable neoprene cover and a shock-absorbing insole and heel. To translate it, it is a bathing shoe that is extremely quick-drying, extremely durable, lightweight, non-slip and that you can walk in for long periods of time.

Aquasphere - Beachwalker: Where the model for children is best for the beach, the model for adults is actually designed for hiking. They have a non-slip and vulcanized sole, which provides a high level of durability, but which is also extremely flexible. Therefore, it is a pair of classic bathing shoes that are extremely comfortable to wear for long periods of time and are incredibly durable.

- Aquasphere - Seaboard: Is for those who want the same functions as the Aquasphere Beachwalker, just in a much more streamlined design. As a result, they have a little better ventilation and take up less of the foot, so you get a little more freedom of movement.

Again, a lot of it comes down to personal preference, but right here it's important to choose a pair of swim shoes that are actually meant for hiking. Otherwise, it will quickly lead to injuries, blisters and, in the worst cases, ulcers on the foot. Some bathing shoes are therefore exclusively for bathing and swimming in, but are not suitable for long walks.

The last little kicks for inspiration

Many of the swimming shoes listed in this blog are also suitable for many other environments and water sports, but they are nevertheless still more suitable for certain elements. If you are looking for a good all-round bathing shoe/sandal for children that can withstand most things and is perfect for a beach holiday, then this is definitely it Nixie, you must go after. They combine all the best features from the different models you can read about in this blog, and therefore the most versatile bathing shoe for children.

The only disadvantage, however, is that they are more like a sandal and you must therefore be aware of the skin areas it does not cover in relation to the sun's harmful rays. If, as an adult, you would prefer a pair of swimming shoes that are suitable for water sports, then Poseidon will be a good choice - especially for SUP. If you are also looking for a bathing shoe that can do most things, then Kawaii and Beachwalker are the safe choices.

If you are still finding it difficult to choose the next pair of swimming shoes, there is more inspiration to get right away here, where you can also read about how to best fit bathing shoes.